How to Eliminate Strong Odors in Your Home

The only thing more embarrassing than having guests see a mess in our home is having them smell something worse. Scent is the sense most tied to memory, and has a huge psychological and emotional impact upon our thoughts and moods, even when we don't realize it. Subconsciously, (or maybe consciously), we judge a person's home by the smell. When we walk into a kitchen that smells like baking bread or pumpkin pie, we instantly feel comforted and welcome. The opposite is true when we walk into a house that smells strongly of an unpleasant odor. We may even judge the homeowner herself, thinking that she is lazy or practices bad hygiene.

Like it or not, we all have trouble spots in our home that are prone to bad smells, such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, or even kids' rooms. To rid your home of strong odors, first step outside for a few minutes, then re-enter the house and check every room. If you have smelled the scent for too long, your nose will become used to it, and you won't notice it any more. If you think you have a problem with odors, you may want to ask a close (and brutally honest) friend to help you locate the source of the smell.

Once you find where the odor is coming from, it is important to eliminate the source rather than mask it when scented candles and air fresheners. Let's start with some of the most common sources of odors:

Garbage Disposal: If you notice a smell coming from your sink, it could be food trapped in your garbage disposal. An easy way to fix this is to grind up lemon slices in the disposer, and rinse with hot water.

Refrigerator, Freezer, and Cabinets: Spilled food or liquid can hide in corners and collect bacteria. Wipe these areas down with an anti-bacterial cleaner, or use natural cleaners that you can make yourself. Don't forget to check the inside of the trash can when you toss out the garbage, for any food that might have fallen to the bottom.

Lavender smells wonderful and has cleansing properties.

Credit: Ken Irwin

Copyright: wikimedia/Ken Irwin